The Saugus River (West Lynn), Manchester and Annisquam River (Gloucester) draws are all bascules; Beverly is a swing bridge. The Annisquam draw is a significantly different design than Saugus or Manchester. I have never looked at the Manchester draw close up, so I can't say if it's actually the same type as Saugus. All date to ~100 years ago, when the line was rebuilt for K-8 2-8-0s and P-2 4-6-2s.

Are any of those Eastern Route movable bridges in tolerable condition? That's an awful long-term repair bill and years of constant failure flare-ups of this sort that they're looking at if all 4 of them need major rehab or replacement in the next 10 years.

Beverly, if they went for a full span replacement, could be made a fixed bridge if it were raised a few feet to the level of the brand new Essex Bridge right next to it carrying 1A. I don't know if that's in the cards at all for the programmed rehab/replacement of the span later this decade. Saugus would take a pretty major raising equivalent to the pipeline next to it to become non-movable, because both the 1A and Route 107 bridges on either side are draws. But I think they were planning just that had the Blue Line needed to share it. Manchester's pretty tight confines and close to the station, but only small pleasure boats use the harbor. Gloucester's a really narrow pleasure boat strait and very small bridge, but a very heavily used waterway.

I don't know...path of least resistance is rehab, especially on the two Rockport Branch bridges. But can't help but think that 4 is just too many for how problem-prone moveables are. Someday it's going to be prudent to bite the bullet and rebuild at least one if not two of these as a fixed span. We've been dealing with these troublesome failure rates for 30 years.

F-line to Dudley via Park wrote:Are any of those Eastern Route movable bridges in tolerable condition? That's an awful long-term repair bill and years of constant failure flare-ups of this sort that they're looking at if all 4 of them need major rehab or replacement in the next 10 years.

"Tolerable" is sounding more and more of a stretch every day.

Beverly, if they went for a full span replacement, could be made a fixed bridge if it were raised a few feet to the level of the brand new Essex Bridge right next to it carrying 1A.

That'll never happen. Raising the bridge to that height would require prohibitively steep approaches. The 1A bridge itself is too high even for highway traffic IMO. That being said, any new bridge the T decides to build should be a bit higher than the existing one, but still have a moveable span.

Saugus would take a pretty major raising equivalent to the pipeline next to it to become non-movable, because both the 1A and Route 107 bridges on either side are draws. But I think they were planning just that had the Blue Line needed to share it.

Raising Saugus shouldn't be too difficult considering that there's ample room for approach spans/fill on either side and the portion of the line through West Lynn and on towards the station is mostly above street level as it is. If not, a new drawbridge like the one being built in Niantic, CT on the Northeast Corridor would be just as much an improvement.

But can't help but think that 4 is just too many for how problem-prone moveables are. Someday it's going to be prudent to bite the bullet and rebuild at least one if not two of these as a fixed span. We've been dealing with these troublesome failure rates for 30 years.

4 is simply unacceptable. If anything the T should be applying for a federal grant to cover the cost if they can't pay for it themselves.

"Despite bridge repair, safety issues still slowing trains By Stephanie Bergman Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Fri Jan 13, 2012, 01:12 AM EST More than a day after a structural defect of the Annisquam River railroad bridge was repaired, forcing a temporary closure of the inbound track over the bridge, trains remain under a speed restriction when crossing, despite claims that the track is safe to cross.The single track — one of two that crosses the century-old bridge — was initially closed shortly before noon Wednesday, and then was reopened with a speed restriction of 10 mph at 3:30 p.m.As of press time Thursday, however, trains crossing the bridge were still slowing to a crawl in order to pass."

jbvb wrote:The Saugus River (West Lynn), Manchester and Annisquam River (Gloucester) draws are all bascules; Beverly is a swing bridge. The Annisquam draw is a significantly different design than Saugus or Manchester. I have never looked at the Manchester draw close up, so I can't say if it's actually the same type as Saugus. All date to ~100 years ago, when the line was rebuilt for K-8 2-8-0s and P-2 4-6-2s.

I don't know if the Manchester Drawbridge is totally different from the Saugus Drawbridge, but I know that it is somewhat different. For one, it is quite a bit shorter than the Saugus Draw. And it only has one signal on each side of it (Saugus Draw has two signals on each side). Also, I believe the speed over the Manchester Draw is only ten miles an hour. Saugus Draw is thirty miles an hour. Not sure what the reason for that it is, but our moderator can probably explain.

jbvb wrote:The Saugus River (West Lynn), Manchester and Annisquam River (Gloucester) draws are all bascules; Beverly is a swing bridge. The Annisquam draw is a significantly different design than Saugus or Manchester. I have never looked at the Manchester draw close up, so I can't say if it's actually the same type as Saugus. All date to ~100 years ago, when the line was rebuilt for K-8 2-8-0s and P-2 4-6-2s.

I don't know if the Manchester Drawbridge is totally different from the Saugus Drawbridge, but I know that it is somewhat different. For one, it is quite a bit shorter than the Saugus Draw. And it only has one signal on each side of it (Saugus Draw has two signals on each side). Also, I believe the speed over the Manchester Draw is only ten miles an hour. Saugus Draw is thirty miles an hour. Not sure what the reason for that it is, but our moderator can probably explain.

Manchester's been in that much worse shape for that much longer than Saugus, which was a recent flare-up. It's also very close to the station so trains are always going to be slower here for that reason alone.

But, definitely, way worse shape for a way longer time. This situation can't go on much longer.

Actually Manchester Draw is saved by the fact the boat yard west of the draw has a crossing that requires train to pass over at 15 mph. So with the station on one side and the boat yard on the other, trains pass over at a very reduced speed.

sery2831 wrote:Actually Manchester Draw is saved by the fact the boat yard west of the draw has a crossing that requires train to pass over at 15 mph. So with the station on one side and the boat yard on the other, trains pass over at a very reduced speed.

John, do you know why Manchester Draw has only one signal at each end of it? Beverly Draw and Saugus Draw both have two signals at each of their ends, so why is Manchester Draw different?

sery2831 wrote:Actually Manchester Draw is saved by the fact the boat yard west of the draw has a crossing that requires train to pass over at 15 mph. So with the station on one side and the boat yard on the other, trains pass over at a very reduced speed.

John, do you know why Manchester Draw has only one signal at each end of it? Beverly Draw and Saugus Draw both have two signals at each of their ends, so why is Manchester Draw different?

Manchester Draw has two signals on each end. One of each pair is a dwarf signal because the signal system is Rule 251; i.e. signal for movements in the assigned direction of traffic only. Therefore it doesn't need to be a mast signal.